The investigation is now complete in regard to that head-on crash on Hwy. 273 that killed two people.

Two drivers, both of whom were alone in their vehicles, died as the result of that crash just west of Tracy on Tuesday, Aug. 30 about 11:30 a.m.

Sgt. Julia Ingram of the Platte County Sheriff’s Department says the sheriff’s crash team has determined that the westbound vehicle driven by Eric Kirley, 33, of Kansas City, Ks. was about five feet across the center line at the time of impact.

The crash occurred just east of Hackberry Lane. Kirley’s vehicle was across the line when it was struck by an eastbound Toyota Rav 4 driven by Deborah Prindle, 57, of Weston, as Prindle’s vehicle crested a hill.

“It isn’t known why his (Kirley’s) vehicle was over the center line,” said Sgt. Ingram.

Prindle was pronounced dead at the scene and Kirley died after being transported to an area hospital. Both drivers were wearing seat belts and the air bags were deployed on each vehicle.

Prindle’s eastbound Rav 4 ended up facing west in the eastbound lane after the crash, while Kirley’s westbound Camry came to rest sideways in the westbound lane. Ingram said before coming to rest, the driver’s side of Prindle’s vehicle struck a tree alongside the road.

In addition to the sheriff’s department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was also on the scene, as was Central Platte Fire Department, which provided extrication.

Hwy. 273 between Tracy and Weston was shut down for four hours because of the accident. Officers from the Tracy Police Department and Platte City Police Department assisted in directing traffic around the closed highway.

Photos of the vehicles at the crash scene can be found on The Landmark’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/ivan.foley.